MWSF: Apple shares hit record high

While Apple CEO Steve Jobs faces a billion-dollar reward.

Apple's shares are shooting higher on news of a record quarter, its faster-than-expected move to Intel and continued dominance of the digital media markets.

Shares presently stand at $83.90 each - a new corporate high - with analyst sentiment remaining optimistic across the board - some even expect the shares to reach $100 this year.

Mac sales predicted to rise

Apple is likely to see a marked increase in sales of its Macs - not least because the company has confirmed that while it has taken steps to make the Intel version of OS X not work on non-Macs, it has taken no measures to prevent Windows operating on the new Macs. This means users could theoretically run both popular operating system's on their machines.

"Now consumers can buy a Mac that is three times faster and for the same price," said Nathan Brookwood, an analyst with Insight 64 research firm.

Apple secured $5.7 billion in sales during the just past holiday quarter. It sold 1.25 million Macs and 14 million iPods - nearly three times as many iPods as it sold in the same period one year ago.

Apple's market share has climbed from 3 to 4 per cent in the US. In the UK education market, the company now holds a 12 per cent market share - triple its position just five years ago.

Apple's leaders' bargain deal

With all that success, Apple's famous CEO (who gets paid a dollar a year) may be looking at his share options with some interest.

Jobs exchanged worthless options on a split-adjusted 55 million shares for 10 million shares of restricted stock three years ago. The shares represent the company founder's entire stake in Apple, and he can sell them, should he choose to, in March. And they are worth $808.6 million at today's market price.

It's money for success and represents a basic principle Jobs applies across Apple, where success is rewarded.